Part Twelve

It is raining when Cat wakes up. She can hear the drops of water hit the top of her air conditioner as she throws her head beneath a stack of pillows. The feather pillows do nothing to mute the tap tap tap of the rain and she rolls over to look out the window. A gray light filters in from the alleyway behind her building and she watches the water collect in puddles on her window sill. She does not want to get out of bed. She turns over to face the wall; shutting her eyes she tries to force her body back into sleep.

As soon as her toes hit the cool floor of her living room she can hear Dave snoring. The muted noise makes her smile before she remembers that he probably isn’t alone. The morning routine she knows by heart does nothing to distract her tired mind and she sits instead on the sofa staring at the black television screen. Cat knows she has to get out of the apartment. The rain, which cooled the city overnight, traps the growing heat and she if forced to turn on the air conditioning to fight the cloud of humidity that threatens to swallow her apartment. She looks down onto the street and watches a few brave individuals rush through the hard rain darting toward the safety of their final destination. There is no reason to go outside so she sinks back into her couch and waits for something on television to grab her attention. Nothing comes. She puts on her cleaning clothes and takes the yellow gloves from beneath her sink and begins to dismantle her apartment. First she tackles the kitchen, removing the dishes and glassware from her small cupboards and cleaning each shelf, then the counters and the refrigerator. She moves into the bathroom and scrubs the tub and sink before pushing her way through the rest of her apartment. After two long hours she falls into the sofa, her forehead thick with sweat, her eyes watering from the chemicals. She slips into a restless sleep. When she opens her eyes it is almost evening. She listens for Dave upstairs before ducking into the shower to finally clean herself.

The rain hasn’t stopped but Cat is tired of being inside. She grabs an umbrella and heads out to the grocery store. The heat outside is oppressive, and as the warm rain slides down the back of her calves she wonders why she did not order delivery. The two blocks between her building and the store stretch forever as she ducks under awnings and tries to avoid puddles. By the time she reaches the store her shoes are drenched. A burst of cool air gives her a chill as she wipes drops of water from her arms and grabs a basket. She picks through the fresh produce wondering what to cook for dinner and suddenly looks forward to a kitchen full of fragrant vegetables and herbs. Inspired, she plucks tomatoes and basil from the bins and moves quickly to the pasta aisle having decided to prepare her favorite comfort food. A basic tomato sauce with pasta, a caprese salad and good bread, she collects the ingredients and makes another stop at the wine store. She splurges on a good bottle and looks forward to being home alone. Cat knows she needs to get used to spending nights alone at home, that she is going to be single for a while. Missing out on a relationship with Dave stings, but the absence of hope is at least blunt and definitive, unlike the mess with Nick, she has no doubt where she lies with Dave.

As she fumbles with for her keys she hears a voice on the stairs and she just catches a glimpse of Dave as he walks toward his apartment. She opens the door quietly and waits, not wanting to hear about his reconciliation with Heather. She pretends to look in her mailbox as she listens to his conversation.

“I don’t know what to do,” Dave says, “I really like her, but I’m not sure how she feels or if this is even a good idea.”

With each word sadness grips Cat’s positive attitude and drags it down a notch.

“I know, I know, but I’m not sure what to say, or even if she's interested. You know how these things go. And it isn’t like I haven’t been hurt before.” Dave talks as he walks slowly up the stairs.

He really loves her, Cat thinks. There really is no hope, she thought that she knew there was no hope, but hearing him talk about Heather pounds each nail deeper into the coffin and she is suddenly very sad. How could I be so stupid, how did I miss this great guy?

She waits until she hears the door of his apartment open and then close to rush up the stairs. Once she is safely behind her door she puts her bags down and stomps her feet. I’ve got to just get through this. I was single before and I’m still single now and I can do this, Cat tells herself as she unloads the groceries. She puts a pot on the stove and begins to chop the onion and fennel for her tomato sauce. She turns on her stereo and moves through the kitchen to the sounds of her favorite songs. They are not songs she would listen to in mixed company, but in private she likes to sing along with the pop music she loved in seventh grade. A glass of wine sits on the counter and she sips it as she cooks. The ritual takes almost two hours and by the time she ready to cook the pasta she is calm. She knows everything will be alright, even if she can’t imagine how her life will ultimately come together, she knows she will be fine. Better than fine, happy.

Cat reaches into the fridge for a block of parmesan cheese and realizes that she forgot to buy any at the store. She looks at her watch. The store is open for fifteen minutes and if she rushes she can make it. She turns down the heat on her simmering sauce and rushes out the door. The rain has finally stopped leaving a soft wet fog in its place. Cat spits out the thick air as she jogs to the store. Pleased that she didn’t miss her window all together she walks home with a light step. Things are turning my way, she thinks as she rounds the corner onto her block.

“Cat,” she hears from behind her. She slowly turns around. She knows it is Dave and she doesn’t want him to ruin her mood. He is jogging to catch her but a big bulldog slows him down.

“You have a dog?” She asks.

“Yeah, you haven’t met George. He’s my best buddy.” Dave reaches down to pat George’s head. George does not look up.

“I didn’t see him the other night in your apartment.”

“Oh I know, Heather hates him so I had to stuff him into the spare bedroom. He was not happy.” Dave smiles. Cat doesn’t want to ask about Heather.

“How are you?” She asks as they walk the last thirty feet into their building.

“Pretty good. Come on George,” Dave says dragging the dog by the leash. “He is so lazy; I swear he could sleep anywhere.” Dave isn’t looking at her and she wonders if he even wants to be friends anymore. “He snores too. Have you heard him?” He asks.

“The dog snores?” Cat says.

“Yes, it’s so loud. I meant to ask you months ago if it bothers you.”

“Oh my god,” Cat starts to laugh. She chokes down big breaths of air as she leans forward and puts her head between her legs. She is laughing so hard she might start to cry. “That’s George.” She laughs harder. “I thought it was you!” Tears roll down her cheeks and for a moment she worries that she might start to cry in earnest. She is so sad that things with Dave didn’t work out. Looking at him now she realizes how perfect he could have been for her, and what a fool she’s been.

“That’s embarrassing, and you never said anything?” Dave says.

“I’m sorry. I had no idea. Oh my god.” She wipes the tears from her cheeks and smiles at him. “At least it’s all cleared up now, and I don’t have to worry about your narcolepsy anymore.”

“That’s true.”

A wind kicks down the street and suddenly the sky opens up again and they are wet. She runs up the steps and opens the door. Dave and George follow close behind.

“It smells great in your apartment,” Dave says as she opens the door.

“Thanks I’ve been cooking all night. I just forgot one thing,” she says raising the plastic bag in her hand. He shifts his weight and looks at George. “Ok, well see you later.” She says shutting the door before he can say anything else.

Minutes later the snoring starts again and Cat smiles as she takes the pasta from the box and drops it into the boiling water.

There is a knock at the door.

Okay. I can do this, she thinks, we can be friends.

“Hey Dave,” Cat says. He has a bottle of wine in his hand.

“I’m inviting myself over for dinner,” Dave says.

“Oh really, I guess I have enough for one more.” She looks at the feast that is being cooked in her kitchen. “Let me throw some more pasta in the water.”

Dave sits at her small island and watches her.

“Cat, about last night, I’m sorry I was so rude when you came up.” He takes a sip of wine.

“No, no don’t worry about it. I was the asshole the night before. So I guess we’re even.” She says with her back to him.

“You thought I was being an asshole,” he asks.

“No, no, it’s fine. So you’re back together with your girlfriend now, that’s great. I mean that’s what you wanted, right?” She sifts through the wet basil at the sink. She can’t look at him and pretend to be happy for him.

“What?” Dave asks.

“I heard you talking on the phone earlier today about how you really like her and you hope things work out.” She says drying the leaves of basil. She stirs the pasta and checks the time. Her eyes well with tears and she can’t stop them from rolling down her cheeks. She takes a deep breath and tries to collect herself; she can’t let him see her like this. She wipes her face on a wet dish towel.

Dave’s hand is on her back.

“Are you okay?” He asks.

“Oh yeah, fine, just cooking.” She still can’t look at him.

“Cat, look at me,” he says.

She turns slowly to face him. The tears now fall freely and there is nothing she can do to stop them.

“I’m sorry, it’s just been a long weekend,” she says trying to explain the crying without telling him the truth.

“Cat,” he says wiping the tears from her cheek as he puts her face into his hands, “I was talking about you today on the phone. You are the one I want to date.”

She closes her eyes for a second.

“Are you serious,” she asks, “Me?”

“Yes, you, of course you,” Dave smiles.

She lifts her hands and holds onto his wrists. He is standing so close that she can smell his fresh clean shirt.

“What? I thought you we’re going to get back together with Heather.”

“No, things with Heather are long over, Cat, I’ve been practically throwing myself at you ever since we first met.”

“No you haven’t,” she says.

“Yes, yes, I have.” Dave says as he leans into kiss her. She drops her hands and puts her arms around his waist.

The pasta water bubbles over.

“Oh no, the pasta,” Cat says as she reaches for a spoon.

“We can go out for dinner,” Dave says pulling her close to him.

She smiles as George starts to snore again. Dave stops.

“You really thought that was me,” he asks. “That is disgusting.”

“I didn’t know what to think,” Cat says smiling as she takes his hand. “Just let me get changed,” she says planning a nice outfit for dinner. She pats her dishelved hair and runs her hands down her legs feeling the edges of her tattered shorts.

“No, no,” Dave says, “you're perfect just like that.”

Part Eleven

“Do not say I told you so,” Cat insists as she takes a sip of her iced coffee. Mark and Hallie look at her from across the table. Her black sunglasses hide the dark circles that threaten to swallow her blue eyes.

“So what happened? Is everything okay? Hals was very cryptic on the phone.” Mark says.

“I don’t know what's going on either,” Hallie says.

For a moment Cat sees how very silly this entire situation is, that she called her friends and forced them to meet her Saturday morning to discuss a guy she ran into who she was, what? Dating? No. Seeing? No. Talking to? No. Emailing? Yes, but honestly what does that even mean.

“I am an idiot, you guys. Oh my god.” She starts to laugh.

“Are you going crazy or something? You look like Tammy Fay Baker and now you are laughing?” Mark asks.

“Oh Jesus, seriously. I am a huge idiot.”

“Well at least tell us what happened?” Hallie takes a sip of her coffee and swirls the warm liquid in her mouth.

“I ran into Nick last night at a party.” Cat says.

“Oh shit.” Mark interrupts.

“Let me finish. And he has a fiancé. And I am a total idiot!” The tears start again.

“Oh don’t cry,” Hallie says, “he’s totally not worth the salt.”

“No, I know. It’s just I feel so stupid. What is wrong with me that I would pin all my hopes on some guy who only has time to email me? I just feel so stupid. Really, it has nothing to do with him.”

“I know how you feel.” Mark says. Hallie and Cat exchange confused glances. “I do! I’ve been an idiot in love before, we all have.”

“But not over the internet. It’s like some sort of bad tabloid story.” Cat says a small smile creeping back over her face.

“You wish this was bad enough for a tabloid. This is nursery school scandal to them.” Hallie smiles.

“So what happened?” Mark asks as he leans back in his chair.

When Cat reaches the end of the story she is reluctant to tell them about Dave.

“The worst part of it was that I ran out of the bar like a crazy person, and Dave actually followed me.”

“Of course he did,” Mark says.

“Why would you say that?” Cat asks.

Mark and Hallie exchange a look.

“Honestly Cat, you can be so dense. He is obviously crazy about you.”

“No, no he’s not. He’s just lonely.”

“Seriously, Cat, a guy that nice and that cute is not lonely.”

“You think he likes me,” Cat plays with her straw.

“Cat, why do you think I didn't go out with him? He was totally not interested in me.” Hallie says.

"Really," Cat blushes.

“Of course he likes you, honey,” Mark says.

“Oh my god, I really am an idiot.” Cat puts her hands over her face.

“This time, about Dave, I’m going to have to agree.” Mark smiles.

As Cat walks home she thinks of Dave. She never thought he was flirting with her, but maybe she just didn’t want to see it. She was too focused on Nick. Although she is embarrassed that she wasted so much time thinking about some guy who was never interested in her, she is also glad that it gave her an excuse to get to know Dave in a way she would not have done if she had thought about him as a possibility right from the start. Her pace quickens. She can’t believe she missed everything with Dave.

Cat moves down her block with one goal in mind. She is going to talk to Dave. She marches up the stairs, past her own front door, and knocks at his apartment. She hasn’t thought about what she is going to say only that she wants to talk to him.

She knocks. Cat can hear him inside scrambling to get to the door. She smiles. Why didn’t see figure this out earlier? Of course she’s attracted to him, he’s adorable, and smart and nice. She is shaking her head as he finally opens the door.

“Oh hey Cat. How are you?” He says looking past her down the stairs.

“Hi,” she smiles, “sorry to just barge in on you, I just wanted to apologize for last night.”

“Don’t worry about it. Nick is a total douche, I’ve always known that.” He checks his watch.

“Did I catch you at a bad time? You seem a little frazzled.”

“Actually, kind of, I’m waiting for my ex, Heather, to come over. Courtney told her that I saw them last night and she called this morning. Come in and tell me how the place looks.”

Cat’s heart sank. She missed her chance with Dave.

“Sure, sure.” Cat walks through the door. “The place looks great Dave. It’s so clean.” She scans the room, her eyes fall over the soft leather sofa and dark coffee table. The door to one bedroom is open and the other closed.

“I had to stuff all the junk into that room,” he smiles nervously. “I don’t know what Heather wants. I moved out here to be with her and then she dumped me right after I arrived. I rented this apartment thinking the two of us would live here. I don’t need two bedrooms for myself.” He spits out.

“Calm down, Dave. It’s fine. You're a great guy, she’d be lucky to have you.” Cat smiles at him, “anyone would be.”

“That’s sweet Cat, thanks. I don’t know why I'm so nervous.” Dave runs his hands through his clean hair.

“I’d better get going. Thanks again for last night.” Cat says. “Good luck with Heather.”

“Thanks Cat.” He says practically pushing her out the front door.

Cat slowly takes the steps down to her apartment. This is worse than last night she thinks. How could she let Dave slip through her fingers? She sits down on her sofa debating her next move. There is no way she can sit in her apartment all day. She flips open the computer to find a movie. Instantly a message from Nick pops up.

Oh my god, Cat, I am so sorry. It isn’t want you think at all. I have really enjoyed talking to you these last few months. Everything with Courtney has been so complicated…

Before Cat finishes reading Nick’s message she erases it. She does not care what he has to say anymore. She reaches for her phone.

“Hals,” Cat says, “meet me on my corner in thirty minutes, and be ready to stay out for the rest of the night.” She calls Mark next and jumps in the shower. Cat puts on her favorite dress and dries hair. Her reflection stares back at her and for once she sees the beautiful woman that she has become. She smears on a shimmery lip gloss and grabs her purse. A snoring starts upstairs and for a second she thinks of Dave and allows herself to wonder how his reunion with Heather went, and then imagines them snuggling in his bed before pushing the image from her mind.

She steps outside into the warm summer air and waves at her friends on the corner. She rushes to meet them, to be surrounded by their love and support.

“Hey gorgeous,” Mark shouts.

“Hi, hi,” she says trying to blink the tears out of her eyes.

“So, how did it go with Dave? Did you talk to him?” Hallie asks.

“So much worse than you can possibly imagine,” she says as she steps in to the street to hail a taxi. “He’s getting back together with the love of his life.”

“Shit.”

“Shit.”

“Well, screw him,” Mark recovers, “you're too good for him anyway.”

“Where to,” Hallie asks.

Mark gives her a nasty look.

“What did I do?” She asks as they squish into the backseat of the cab.

“Its break-up drinks, honey. To the Carlyle Hotel on 74^th and Madison, please.” Mark tells the driver. “We’re going to Bemelmans.”

“Oh of course,” Hallie says and squeezes Cat’s knee. “Tell us everything.”

Part Ten

"Oh My God!!" Cat screams, although it sounds more like a whisper with Journey blaring in the background. "What are you doing here?!" Before she can stop herself her arms are around his neck and only when she notices his hands are still by his side holding shots of Yaeger does she let go.

"Hey Cat, good to see you," Nick says looking around.

"You too! I can't believe it. I never thought I would run into you in New York! What are you doing down here?" She can't wipe the smile off her face. What luck, she keeps thinking, thank God she decided to go out with Dave tonight.

"I'm here for a friends wedding." He looks uncomfortable.

"No way, do you know Dave?" She points to Dave and Courtney who are still talking in the corner.

"Sure, sure, I know Dave." He tries to sneak a shot of liquor into his mouth but Cat scrunches her nose and shakes her head at him. "Thirsty?" She askes. After months of talking online she feels like she knows him, like this is a perfectly normal continuation of all the previous conversations they have had.

"I don't want them to go to waste." He smiles. There's the humor I know, she thinks.

"Well pass one over here," she takes a plastic shot glass from his hand and toasts the one he is left with. "Cheers! Here's to bumping into you, literally," she laughs and runs her hand over the stain on his right forearm.

"Ha, right! You too." He says moving his arm so she can't reach him.

"So, what's up? How are you? It's so good to see you." She can't believe he is here, that she is actually talking to him. This is so much easier than she thought it would be, and how easy that it just happened without her having to plan it all out.

"I know. This is crazy." He looks around again. "Hey, excuse me for one second. I need to give the rest of these shots to my buddies."

"Sure, no problem," Cat says before she notices that his hands are empty. Shit, she thinks, I always come on too strong. She walks back to Dave and Courtney. A bad feeling is growing in her stomach and she allows herself to wonder if she really has been wasting time on Nick. She can hear Hallie's voice in her head and she wishes her friend was here to reassure her fragile nerves. Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Hi, long line in the bathroom." Dave asks.

"Ha," Cat forces a smile on her face.

"You okay?" He looks worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just too much Yaeger. Ugh."

"Don't I know it," Courtney says flashing her perfect white smile. "My fiance was supposed to bring me another shot. I don't know what hole he fell into."

"The weirdest thing just happened," Cat leans into tell Dave, "I just ran into this guy I used to date freshman year of college."

"Really, who? Maybe I know him."

Cat turns to face the crowd. She searches for Nick until she spots him huddled up to the bar across the room.

"See that tall guy over there, with the blue shirt and the dark hair, right up against the bar. The bartender is serving him now." Cat points at Dave, and she sees Courtney snuggle up next to him. "Right next to Courtney."

"Nick?" Dave asks. "That's Court's fiance. They are getting married in a September."

Cat has to choke back her tears. There is no way she can stay at the party. She can't face Nick again. As she turns to grab her purse she hears Courtney behind her.

"Dave, Davey, look who the cat finally dragged in." She shouts over the music.

"Hey Buddy," she hears Dave's friendly voice and the loud clap of a hand on a back.

She pretends she needs something from her purse and moves her lipgloss and wallet in a circle before she feels Dave's hand on her back. Her tears have frozen and a quick anger takes their place.

"Hey Cat, I want you to meet Courtney's fiance, Nick. Or should I say I want you to see since it seems you two already know each other." Dave laughs.

Courtney's grin turns into a tight line. "You know each other?" She asks.

Cat waits for Nick to answer. This is not her problem.

"Yeah, babe, we went to college together. Hey Cat, it's great to see you." He throws her a line hoping she's grab on and save him.

"Yeah, Nick, you too, although we did just say hello. Or maybe you forgot." Cat takes a swig of her beer.

"No way, when was the last time you two talked." Courtney asks relaxing.

"Um, I don't know. Years ago. I mean we haven't talked since school, probably." Nick sips his vodka through a small red straw. He won't look at Cat.

"I guess that's right," Cat starts. Courtney and Dave are looking at her now, "but we've been emailing pretty regularly for the last few months." She downs the rest of her beer and puts her purse over her shoulder. "Funny, you seem to have forgotten to mention your fiance." Cat looks at Nick who won't meet her gaze. "Sorry Courtney, Dave." She says and walks out of the bar.

When she reaches the street she is ready to scream. She walks quickly down the avenue to the train station, but can't force herself down the stairs, she continues walking south until she is almost running. She can't even think about what has just happened. What an idiot, what an idiot, what an idiot, she says over and over in her head until the tears finally begin to fall. When she reaches fifty-fifth street her legs are so heavy that she doesn't think she can take another step. She stops. She puts her hand up to hail a cab. A taxi is just two blocks north and she prays someone else won't catch it. She rubs her wet eyes with the back of her hand and waits. As the taxi approaches she turns to make sure she has enough cash.

"Cat," she hears. "Cat," Dave says his breathes short and hard, "are you ok?"

When the taxi stops he opens the door and climbs in next to her.

Part Nine

"Please take me with you," Mark begs as he takes a dainty bite of his proscuitto appetizer. Cat always marvels at his ability to make even the most difficult foods seem effortless to eat. She pulls at the thin strip of fat stuck between her two front teeth with her tongue before abandoning the pursuit all together. Mark wraps another paper thin slice around his fork and pops it in his mouth.

"Of course. Maybe now you'll actually have to listen to me." She laughs.

"Maybe," he winks.

Hallie walks in the door and they both turn to wave.

"Hi, hi, congrats!" She kisses Cat on the cheeks, "I'm so proud of you. Sorry I'm late. Hi Markus," she greets him.

"Hi, honey," Mark says pushing the plate of appetizers toward Hallie. She loves food almost as much as he does.

"So, what have you been up to? I haven't really seen you since your party, which was amazing." She takes a sip of prosecco.

"Oh not much, just the ushe."

"Markus, darling, something fun must have happened in the last month." Hallie grins at him.

"Well, I met two new boys, but I don't think anything will come of it, sadly."

"Tell me about it." Cat watches and eats as her two best friends catch up.

"Whatever happened with you and Cat's neighbor. She never said anything about it."

"Oh Dave, nothing. He's not really my type." Hallie takes a bite of cheese.

"What, he's adorable." Mark protests.

"He's cute, but I don't know. He's too nice, or something." They both look at Cat.

"Whatever," she says, "he lives in my building. A big no no."

"True," they agree.

Dinner passes quickly and although Cat wants to stay out and spend more time with her friends she also needs to get home. She can't wait to hear what Nick thinks of her new promotion. She leaves Hallie and Mark as they duck in to a wine bar and walks home. The warm air sticks to her skin and as she finally opens the door to her apartment she regrets not leaving the air conditioning on when she stopped by earlier. The air is stagnent and she stands in front of her window unit letting the cold air blow over her until she feels like she won't die of heat stroke.

Cat takes a seat on the sofa, turns on the television and opens her laptop.

Oh my god! Congrats! That is great. You totally deserve it. Obviously MS is as smart as they say, if she was able to see how great you are. Hope you had a good celebration.

What a great guy, Cat thinks as she flips through the channels. She waits to respond, letting his words sink in. She does deserve this promotion. She's proud of herself. A call from her mother slips through to voicemail as she write Nick back.

Thanks! I am so excited. You are awesome to be so encouraging! It feels great to have so much support.

Only a minute passes.

Of course darlin'. You are great! Off to bed. Talk soon.

Cat smiles. She feels lucky to have him in her life.

--

The week flies by. Work is demanding and she refuses to let anything slip by, so she stays late, eats at her desk and falls into bed when she finally makes it home. Cat hasn't had a moment to worry about Nick. Somewhere in her spare time she has decided to invite him to New York. It's time for us to get together she thinks and with her new found self confidence she has no doubt he feels the same.

By the time she gets home Friday it is almost 9:00 p.m. Her friends are out at a bar, and she isn't sure she wants to join them. She puts her feet up on the coffee table and closes her eyes for a second.

A knock at the door wakes her up.

"One sec," she worries its the super, but remembers it is past 9:00 p.m. on a Friday night and unless there is a fire there is no way he would be here.

She peers out the peep hole and sees Dave.

"Hi Dave," Cat says as she opens the door.

"Hey Cat, how are you? I haven't seen you around in a while. "

"I'm good, good, come in." She opens the door so he can pass.

"Thanks. I'm about to head out to a party with some of my law school friends. Wanna come?"

She looks at his face, and knows he wants her to come with him, that he doesn't want to go to one more party by himself, and she feels sorry for him. She feels sorry for herself, when she used to have nights like this, when she didn't want to sit home but didn't have anyone to go out with. Immediately she decides to join him.

"I just got home. Give me twenty minutes?" she smiles.

"Sure, no problem," he turns to go back to his own apartment.

"No, grab a beer and stay here. Tell me what you've been up to."

Cat leaves the door to her bedroom open a crack so she can hear him from the living room.

"So why are you working so late these days?" Dave asks.

"Oh my god, I didn't tell you, I got a promotion. It's great. I'm in charge of an entire department!" She peaks her head around the door to smile at him.

"Wow, how did that happen."

Cat explains the entire story, filling him in on her project and on Oz and Mary.

"I can't believe I'm old enough to be a Director. I remember when I first started working and anyone over thirty seemed ancient, and here I am making more money, but my life doesn't feel any more settled than it did at twenty-three." She brushes her hair and inspects her reflection in the mirror. She's put on a casual but fun outfit. No heels for her tonight, she's in espadrille wedges and a light almost see-through white cotton v-neck tee-shirt. The runs she's been taking have paid off and her skin is a little darker than it was last month. Her hair is just lighter than it was all winter. She puts on a thin layer of lip gloss and presents herself to Dave.

"I know how you feel. It's the same at my firm." He looks up from the magazine he's leafing through when she walks in the room. "You look great," he says.

"Thanks," Cat is happy she's going out with him. "So where's this party after all?"

"It's on the Upper West Side, some bar on Columbus and 74th."

Cat cringes, "is this one of those $30 for three hours of open bar."

"You got it," he says.

"Ugh," she sighs.

"These guys are kind of fratty, but their pretty nice," he pauses, "most of them are pretty nice."

"Well we'll definitely add to the party," she says as she grabs her purse. "Let's get out of here."

The train crawls beneath the city, but Cat hardly notices how slowly they are moving. The express is out of order and they stand on a local packed with teenagers and toursits. Dave tells her about his life in Chicago. How much he misses the city, but is also glad to be trying something new. He misses his parents and brothers, all of whom live in the Windy City.

"I can't imagine being in New York forever."

"It grows on you, I promise. Next time you go back to Chicago you won't believe there isn't a place to get a full meal at 2:00 a.m. and that you can't buy beer at 4:00 a.m." She says.

"Do I need to eat dinner at 2:00 a.m. or buy beer at 4:00 a.m.?" he protests, "and I'm pretty sure you can do both of those things in Chicago anyhow."

"Good point. Although we are going to a party for people twenty-five or under." She grips the warm pole in her hand as the train slows to a stop.

"These guys are my age," he says.

"Which is what? Twenty-four?" She teases.

"Plus eleven." They move into a pair of seats as the train clears out at 42nd street.

"Really, 35. You look much younger." She says.

"Is that a compliment? I never know."

She nudges him with her knee. Before she knows it they are at 72nd street. They walk to the bar laughing and swear to do a shot as soon as they walk through the door.

They move down the stairs into the private back room. Cat can hear the bad music through the closed door and although she isn't excited about the party, she knows she'll have fun with Dave.

The bar is crowded and the back porch is crammed with people smoking. She has to wait in a crowd to get a drink. Dave slips away from her, sweaty young guys pushed between them, and he is caught in a circle of friends. Cat doesn't know what to order him and she worries that he won't find her before it is her turn to order. She feels his hand on her back as she cranes her neck to find the bartender.

"Don't worry, the bartender is my buddy's younger brother." Dave smiles.

Cat relaxes and waits. Dave passes her a shot of yaeger and a Bud.

"I could be in college," she says.

"I doubt you drank Bud in college, maybe Natty Lite."

"Touche."

"To neighbors and new friends," Dave offers as he lifts his shot glass to meet Cat's.

"To neighbors and new friends," she repeats and downs the dark licorice liquid in one gulp.

"Ok, that's the last shot for me," she says as she wipes her mouth on the back of her hand.

"Your face is priceless." Dave smiles. "I agree. No more of those for me either. Let's get away from the bar."

He leads her to a quiet corner where one by one people come up to say hello.

"I thought you said you didn't know many people in the city." Cat says.

"Most of these people don't live here. Everyone's here for a friends wedding tomorrow."

"And this is the rehersal dinner."

"The post-rehersal dinner." Dave waves at a gorgeous blonde who is making a bee line for their table.

"Hi Courtney!" Dave gives her a big hug and Cat is suddenly worried that he will abandon her and she'll be stuck at the party alone.

"Hi Davey, it's so good to see you, I miss you!" She grabs his cheeks in her hands and pushes his face between her palms.

"You too." Dave says.

"I was so sorry to hear about you and Heather. I didn't see that coming." The blonde says to him, ignorning Cat.

"Yeah, oh well," Dave takes her hands from his face, "this is my friend Cat, Courtney."

Who is Heather Cat wonders.

"Hi, nice to meet you," Cat sticks out her hand.

"You too," Courtney says as she shakes Cat's hand. "So tell me what happened. Is Heather still in Chicago? I heard she maybe she went to San Francisco."

Dave looks at Cat his face turning red.

"Excuse me," Cat says and disapppears to find the ladies room. She can't stop wondering about Heather but makes a decicion not to ask any questions. Whatever Dave wants her to know he'll tell her. She doesn't need to pry.

The party feels more crowded as she leaves the bathroom. She wedges herself between groups of people turning from side to side to slip past guys who block her way. She turns to the left to miss a girl with four beers cupped between her small fingers and runs smack into a thick elbow. Two shots of yaeger go flying all over the elbow's blue shirt and she thanks god the chococlate liquid spilled on him and not her white shirt. Stupid choice, she tells herself, the white shirt.

"Oh my god, excuse me. I'm sorry it is so crowded in her." She looks at her jeans to make sure she isn't wet.

"Jesus christ, watch where you are going."

Cat pauses before looking up at him.

"Are you serious," she begins turning to look him in the face. "Holy shit," she says. Her hands start to shake and she can feel her heartbeat through her thin shirt. "Nick?"

Part Eight

His words still ring in her ears.

I'm so glad we've reconnected too. It's been really fun chatting with you these last couple of months.

Her honesty, fueled by a gallon of beer, had actually worked. He is happy to be in her life and now she knows it. The doubt that always lingers in the back of her mind is gone, and she feels like they might actually have a chance. After a hungover Saturday afternoon spent writing back and forth Cat wonders when Nick will ask to see her. He only lives a few hours away in Boston, and getting together is totally the next step, she thinks multiple times on Sunday as she circles her computer hoping for another fun afternoon spent with him. She waits for a while until abandoning the computer for a walk outside. She wastes the afternoon walking through the city, stopping at her favorite stores and ending up at a cafe to drink coffee and read the paper alone. She isn't alone, they cafe is packed, and she's only slightly sorry she didn't bring her laptop. A cool breeze kicks up at her back as she walks home and she knows rain is coming. She can smell the metallic water in the air. She's grateful, as she sinks into the sofa and she hears the wet drops pelt her windows, that she's at home.

In the morning her commute is painful. The rain washed over the city leaving a damp fog behind that rises from the streets and pushes hidden smells into the air. Ripe garbage and gasoline surround her as she rushes through the blocks between her apartment and the office. By the time she sits down at her desk she is crabby and her hair is so frizzy Mark does not hesitate to make a comment.

"Did you forget your product this morning," he lifts a lock of hair to examine it more closely.

"Ha, ha, this weather is killing me. It feels like a sauna outside." She turns on her computer.

"I know. But seriously, did you forget to use something in your hair this morning? It looks like you stuck your finger in the electrical socket."

She turns to face him.

"Is it really that bad?" Cat asks as she pats the palms of her hands on the top of her head.

Mark scrunches his mouth and holds it until she gets up from her chair. In the bathroom the air is cool and Cat takes a deep breath before turning to face her reflection.

"Ugh," she says as she turns on the faucet and begins dabbing cold water on her disobedient hair. She pulls an elastic band from her pocket and silently laments the time she wasted blow drying her hair earlier in the morning. Bobby pins struggle against the will of her curls but she fastens them tightly finally taming the most wild pieces into submission. She looks at herself in the mirror and straightens the lines of her pencil skirt before walking back to her cube. Mark is standing where she left him minutes earlier.

"Much better, dear, now you look adorable." He smiles.

Cat rolls her eyes, "don't you have someone else to bother?"

"Moi," Mark lifts his arm and points at his chest, "oh no, no, I don't."

The phone rings. Mark and Cat look wait for the Caller ID to light up.

SAMANTHA DAVIS flashes in green lights.

"Ut oh," Mark says as Cats heart begins to race. Mary's assistant.

"What could she want," Cat says as the phone rings again.

"Answer it!" Mark says.

Cat takes deep breath.

"Hi Samantha," she says pressing the receiver tightly to her ear. "Um hmm, ok, sure, ok, no problem. Ok bye." Cat puts the phone back in the cradle and waits one second to look up at Mark.

"Mary wants to see me in five minutes." She says, the color quickly dripping from her face.

"Well get going. You know you can't be late." Mark ushers her to the elevator with a pen and note pad in her hand. "Good luck, honey," he says as the copper doors slowly close between them.

I'm going to get fired, Cat thinks as the floors slowly ding past until she reaches the 54th floor. The doors open into a completely different atmosphere than the office she left behind. Slow, quiet orchestral music plays and not another sound is heard as she walks out of the elevator toward Samantha's desk. Samantha sits in the middle of a large open space, light files in through partially drawn shades. It is so soothing Cat can hardly believe Samantha isn't asleep. Although she knows this is just a facade, that this floor is more stressful and busy than her own.

"Hi Ms. Green," Samantha says as one of her many assistants silently picks color coordinated files from her desk and whisks away behind a hidden door. "Please have a seat," she motions toward the leather waiting chairs," and Mary will be with you in a minute. May I offer you something to drink?"

Cat surveys the room. She's never been up here before. She's always seem Mary in a conference room on a different floor. She's going to get fired, she knows it.

"No, no thank you." she smiles at Samantha thinking she might be able to toss her a life preserver once Mary sinks her career ship. Cat thinks over the last five years and is suddenly so sad to lose her job, that damn Oz, she feels angry and sad at the same time. Her hands are shaking.

"Ms. Green, Mary will see you now," Samantha rises from her seat and Cat follows her into an even larger room. Mary is seated at a long desk with nothing on it. Not a drink, a pencil, a computer or even a tissue in sight. Cat sits across the empty desk and places her pen and note pad in her lap. She is aware of her every move, the brush of her hand across the arm of the chair, the swish of her silk skirt against the soft leather, her rapid breathing.

"Hello Ms. Green," Mary says as if she is going to enjoy being rid of Cat.

"Hello, how are you?" Cat answers surprised by the calm firmness of her voice.

"Do you know why I asked you up here this morning," Mary pushes the tips of her fingers together into a pyramid.

"I think I have an idea," Cat breathes in through her nose. The warm scent of flowers floated in the air. Where the flowers were she had no idea. This room was so minimalist it could be mistaken for a prison, maybe this was the environment Mary wanted for these types of meetings.

"Good," Mary looked Cat in the eye, "I think you've been doing a great job and I'm going to take you out from under Ozzie's thumb. He doesn't have the slightest idea what you are trying to do, and what we want to do with you."

Cat blinked, waiting for someone to jump out and yell April Fools!. She was speechless.

"You thought you we're going to get fired, didn't you," Mary turned her thin leather chair to face the northern windows. She smiled. "That is something we're going to have to work on, Ms. Green."

"Yes, I was worried I was going to be let go. With the way Oz has been treating me..." Mary held up her hand.

"Oz is not in charge here, Ms. Green, I am. And you know you've got a great product, a great tool for our, my, company. Don't doubt yourself."

Cat took a deep breath. "Thank you, thank you so much for this opportunity."

"May I speak frankly, Ms. Green," Mary asked.

"Yes, please."

"You need to grow up a little bit, it is time for you to stop worrying so much what other people think of you and to have confidence in your obvious abilities. I'm making you director of our new "Young Marys" division because I believe in you, but in order for you to be successful you need to believe in yourself."

Cat was stunned. She was right, Cat knew she was right, but it stung to be complimented and criticized in the same sentence.

"Is that the final name, "Young Marys," she paused, "because I think we can come up with something better."

A smirk slowly crept across Mary's perfectly made-up face, "Now that's what I'm talking about," she said.

"One more thing," Cat said, "please call me Cat."

"And you call me Mary," Mary reached her hand across the wide wood desk to shake Cat's hand.

Part Seven

“Ozzie, this is ridiculous,” Cat complains. She straightens out her skirt as she rises to leave his office. “I can’t do this anymore. Why aren't I credited on the report? You know how much time I spent on this project.” She waves the bound pamphlet in his direction.

“Cat, it’s not what you think,” he taps the end of his pen on his desk.

“Well, then, what is it Ozzie? I’ve been working here for almost five years, and this is the respect I get? I was Project Director on this.” She places her hands on her hips.

“I know, I know. Cat, I can assure you this is a simply clerical error. It was not done on purpose.” He lifts the phone and calls his assistant into the office. Carol, a young eager girl of twenty-three instantly appears in his large corner office.

“Yes, Mr. Bloom,” she smiles at him ignoring Cat.

“We need to re-print fifty copies of this report.” He looks at Cat, “somehow Ms. Green’s name was left off the list of contributors. She should be listed as Project Director.”

“No problem, Mr. Bloom. Will that be all?” She waits for his response.

“Yes, that’s all Carol.” She turns to leave the room.

“Thanks Ozzie,” Cat leaves not satisfied with his excuse. She worries that he left her name off on purpose, and if she knows Oz at all, she knows that is exactly what happened. She’s glad that she bothered to leaf through the report before their meeting later that afternoon.

She sits at her neat cubicle and re-types that notes she made on the report. She thinks typing them again will help her to remember her points later, and hopefully she won’t have to rely too heavily on her notes. She knows the material, she knows the research, she just doesn’t want her nerves to get in her way. Cat doesn’t know why she’s more nervous about this meeting with Mary than she has been about the dozens of other meetings she’s been in with the CEO. Maybe it’s because she really believes in this project. She knows she can get a younger audience interested in Mary’s brand, and Cat thinks she knows exactly how to reach them.

She’s distracted by the mail boy who has a package for her. She puts the skirts she ordered beneath her desk for later. She checks her email. Still nothing from Nick. She hasn’t heard from him in three days. Cat wonders if his absence is the heart of her problem, she feels so much better when she can talk to him about stuff. He always knows just what to say to her. Cat clicks refresh again, but nothing pops up.

“Hello,” Mark leans over her desk.

“Oh hey,” she quickly closes her personal email, “how are you,” she turns around to greet him.

“Whatcha trying to hide?” he points to the screen.

“Oh nothing, just my email.” She pouts.

“How’s Nick?” Mark grins.

“I guess he’s fine,” Cat shrugs.

“What’s wrong, Cat?”

“I haven’t heard from him in three days. I’m worried I said something that offended him.” She confesses.

“ Wrote,” Mark says.

“Huh?”

“Wrote something that offended him, you still haven’t spoken to him, right?” Mark corrects her.

‘Shut up Mark, no I haven’t spoken to him. Ok, ok, but I still haven’t heard from him.” Mark put his hands on her shoulders.

“He’s probably just busy. Are you sure it’s a good idea to be so worried about some guy you haven’t even talked to? I’m worried about how attached you are to Nick.” He gives her a squeeze.

“Mark, I don’t need this right now. I know that you don’t approve of our friendship, but I really like him. I’m having a shitty day, alright. And I’ve got a meeting with Mary later, remember.” She pleads with him.

“Ok, I’m sorry. Don’t worry about Nick. Focus on your meeting. You’ll do great. And we’re still meeting for drinks later, right?” He smiles at her.

“Yes, I’ll see you after work. Now leave me alone. I’ve got to concentrate.” She shoos him away.

“Stop checking your email,” Mark says as he steps into the elevator down the hall.

Cat resists the urge to show him her middle finger. She works through lunch, but knows not eating is a mistake because she is starving at 3:00 p.m. when the meeting begins. Ozzie does not assign her a seat at the conference table and she is forced to sit in the chairs that line the edge of the room with the executive assistants. She notes that her name does now appear on the front page of the report. Maybe she shouldn’t be sitting at the table, Cat thinks as she scans the VPs who surround Oz.

Mary comes in and takes a seat the head of the table. In a moment the shades are drawn and the video presentation begins. Cat watches the video she’s seen hundreds of time and mindlessly mouths the words along with the young women on screen. She wrote the script, the questionnaires and found the young women willing to participate. As the credits roll the lights came back on. Ozzie opens his mouth to begin a discussion but Mary cuts him off.

“Where did you find those young women, Ozzie. They seem like exactly what we are looking for.” Every head in the room turns toward Oz.

“Well, my assistants,” he begins. Cat is certain he has no idea where she found them and she isn’t about to let this project fall through the cracks because of Oz’s incompetence.

“We asked the women under thirty-five in our office to give us a list of their friends who are on a budget but like to entertain and strive for the Mary Stouffer lifestyle,” all eyes are on her now, “ we contacted those women and asked them to give us lists of their friends and so on. We brought the women who were willing to participate together and did several focus groups and personal interviews to best determine exactly what they want from us. We used that information to determine what Mary Stouffer can do to become what these women need and want without compromising our original model.” Cat stops. Ozzie’s face is twisted into a grimace. She shouldn’t have spoken out, but she couldn’t stop herself.

“Oz, why is this woman doing your job?” Mary spits at him.

“She’s the Project Director, Cat Green,” He points at her.

“Well perhaps Cat should take a seat at the table if she is going to make the presentation instead of you. Unless of course you’d like to step in and say something,” Mary asks Oz.

“No, no that’s fine. Here Cat,” he scoots toward the VP next to him, and the entire table rotates to make room for her. Cat can feel her face flush, but she is determined to finish her presentation. She knows she can do a better job than Oz.

“Thank you Mary, Oz,” she begins, “I think this is such a great opportunity for Mary Stouffer to reach a younger audience,” she says as the first image appears on the screen. Her confidence is grows with each word and by the time she concludes she feels like she hit a home run. By the time she gets back to her desk after shaking hands with most of the VPs in the meeting, it is past 6:00 p.m. She jumps in the elevator and rushes to meet Mark, who is waiting patiently in his office.

“Well,” he says.

“Well,” she tries to hide her excitement, “it was amazing!”

“I knew it!” He jumps up to hug her. “Go grab your bag. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

She runs up the stairs back to her cube, turns off her computer and grabs her purse before Oz can corner her. She knows he must be furious with her, but right now she doesn’t care.

Mark is standing outside the building talking on his phone. He smiles when Cat walks through the door. They walk a block to the subway and get on the F train going downtown. When they finally reach the Brodway/Lafayette stop Cats heart has stopped racing. She can’t stop telling Mark about the meeting, how Mary personally invited her to sit at the table and how she could feel Oz planning her early retirement. A light rain began to fall and they dashed down Crosby Street into a large French restaurant that looked like it belonged in Epcot Center. She knew the bar had only opened in the late nineties, and that any semblance to a French bistro was manufactured but she couldn’t help but love it, the soft lighting and the lush French accents drew her in each time she walked through the front door. Mark pushes his way past the throng of tourists to his best friend Pierre, who sits at the bar.

“Hello, hello,” Pierre says as he kisses Cats cheeks. He removes bag from the stool next to him and Cat sits down. She drinks glass after glass of champagne as she, Mark and Pierre laugh and talk.

By the time she leaves she is drunk. Cat managed to drink her dinner and her head spins as Mark stuffs her into a taxi. She somehow manages to toss some wadded up bills at the driver before stumbling out of the door in front of her building. She stands in front of her mail box digging in her purse for her mail key. Cat doesn’t hear the door open.

“You ok?” She does not respond. “Cat?”

“Oh, hey,” she turns around, “Hi Dave,” she puts her hand on his shoulder.

“Everything ok?” He smiles at her.

“Oh yeah, I’m fine,” she leans in toward him, “I yust got home from meeting out with my friends.” She brushes her hair behind her ear.

“Meeting out with your friends?” He teases her.

“Hanging out, thatswhatIsaid.” She turns to walk upstairs. Cat takes makes it up three stairs before stumbling backwards. Dave reaches out and pushes her forward.

“Come on just a few more steps.” She can hear him laughing.

In the morning when Cat wakes up she looks around the room and wonders where she is. Her eyes recognize a plastic bottle of water and her purse on the floor. She rolls over on the sofa and wonders how she ended up in her living room. Her head throbs and she’s thankful it is Saturday. She lifts two tablets of ibuprofen off the table and pops them in her mouth. Cat is pleased she was at least thoughtful enough to lay out Advil for the morning until she sees the note.

Cat–I hope you feel ok. You passed out before I could get you into your bedroom. Take the Advil! –Dave

“I am such an idiot!” Cat says out loud and closes her eyes before drifting back into sleep. She jolts upright and turns to see the computer on the floor. Her heart races, oh no, oh no, oh no.

Part Six

They string Christmas lights across his back porch as Beyonce blares in the background. Cat can’t help but dance around. Mark mixes batches of his famous rum punch, which she’ll have to stay away from if she doesn’t want to ruin her shorts. Mark and Cat take a seat at his patio table, sip their cocktails, and admire a job well done. Friends begin to stream through the door and she can’t believe how good everyone looks. She’s pleased by the dress code’s loose interpretation—there are pretty Cape Cod boaters, cranky old fishermen, and even a few pirates. Cat thinks Hallie’s outfit takes the cake and even though she’d seen it that morning she was amazed at how it had all come together. Mark whistles as she walks into the back yard. He lifts her arm and forces her to spin.

“Let me guess,” he says as he looks over her gold sequin tee-shirt dress, high heels, and her eye-patch. Her make-up sparkles.

“I give up,” he says after a minute.

“I’m the sunken treasure,” Hallie says laughing.

“Perfect,” Mark says and shoves a glass of punch into her hand.

Cat loves the party. She can’t remember when she last had such fun. The promise of summer looms above with the dark dusky sky. It fills her with hope. She steps into the kitchen to refill her beer and she sees Dave walk through the door. She smiles. He’s wearing a double breasted terry cloth blazer, seersucker swim trunks and topsiders. He looks around the room and she knows he’s hoping to find her. She waves.

“Hi,” she shouts over the music. She hands him a beer. “You look amazing. You’re outfit is hysterical!” Before he could respond Mark was behind him rubbing his shoulder.

“Is that a terry cloth blazer,” she can see the envy in Mark’s eye.

“Double breasted,” Dave says proudly as he turns around.

“Oh my God, Pepe,” Mark yelled for his friend, “Excuse me, honey, I need to borrow him.” Mark said as he led Dave away from her. When Cat makes her back outside an hour later Dave is surrounded by a small crowd.

“Do you know that guy?” Hallie asks, her eye-patch resting on her forehead.

“Yes, that’s my neighbor!”

“The snorer?” She crinkles her nose. She can’t believe it.

“Yes!”

“Oh my god, he’s hysterical. He’s totally become the life of the party. Holy shit I almost peed my pants listening to his stories before.” Cat looks in Dave’s direction. A wide circle of laughing people surrounds him and it takes a minute for her to catch his eye. He excuses himself and joins Hallie and Cat.

“Hey Dave, this is my friend Hallie, have you met?” Cat points to Hallie.

“No, hey, I don’t think so.” Cat knows Hallie can take it from here. She goes off to find Mark leaving Hallie and Dave to chat. After what felt like thirty minutes Cat glanced at her watch only to find hours had passed. She felt like Cinderella, she needed to get home before her outfit turned to dust, or just got dirty in her case. Her feet hurt and she was ready for bed. She took a lap around the party looking for Hallie and Dave, but neither was anywhere to be found. Cat kissed Mark and left the party.

In the cab on the way home she feels so proud of herself. She always knew she’d be a great matchmaker. She throws her party clothes in a pile on the floor; she won’t need them again until next summer. She pours a big glass of water, brushes her teeth, washes her face and climbs in to bed. The computer is hot but she doesn't mind.

You around?

Yeah, how are you? How was your night?

It was great. I think I set my friend up with a great guy! I always knew I’d make a great matchmaker.

Cool. How was the party?

And again she fell asleep with Nick.